Method and mechanism for securing a removable tray to a walker

ABSTRACT

A mechanism and method for securing a removable tray to a walker frame. The mechanism comprises a removable spacer wherein the spacer is adapted to frictionally engage the walker tray with a walker handle. The method of attaching the removable walker tray to the walker frame comprises securing a first spacer to a first cutout in the walker tray; securing a second spacer to a second cutout in the walker tray; inserting a first walker handle into the first cutout in the tray; inserting a second walker handle into the second cutout in the tray; and where upon inserting the walker handles into the cutouts, the tray is positioned on top of the walker frame and the tray secured in a substantially level position on the walker frame by frictional engagement of the spacer between the tray and the walker handles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a walker tray and an attachment forsecuring and stabilizing the tray to a walker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most walkers are of a standard construction, including at least two sideframes, which generally include handles or hand grips for a user to graband move the walker. Also included is a front frame that is connected bythe side frames. A walker allows the user extra stability while walkingor standing. It is known in the prior art to offer a removable tray forattachment to a walker. A walker tray allows the user to attach the trayto the walker allowing the user multiple uses of the walker.

General walker and walker tray configurations limit the point ofattachment of the tray to the walker, based on the construction of awalker frame. Trays may not fit onto a walker in a stable or generallyhorizontal fashion, preventing the use of the walker tray as a utilitysurface during movement of a walker.

Additionally, removable trays for improved stability in the prior artrender a cup holder hole useless when the tray is attached to the walkerwhen the method of stabilizing the tray extends under the tray blockingthe cup hole. The mechanisms for folding the walker up also can blockthe cup hole, preventing a user from using the cup holder as intended.

The trays of the prior art cannot universally be attached to all walkerframes in a level that is a substantially horizontal position. Thisrequires the user to use abundant caution when setting uncovered bowlsor cups of soups or other liquids to prevent the inevitable spills andsplashes of the liquid.

Removable walker trays have been described in the prior art includingU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,959, 7,980,263, and 6,883,529. However the priorart walker trays lack support and the ability to be attached in way thatcan be adjusted based on the desire of the user, while retaining fullfunctionality of the walker and the tray and without requiring aspecialized walker or a permanent tray attached to the walker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a mechanism for securing a removable tray toa walker frame. The mechanism comprises a removable spacer wherein thespacer is adapted to frictionally engage the walker tray with a walkerhandle. The spacer is securable to the walker tray such that when thewalker tray is placed on a walker frame, the tray is securedsubstantially horizontally level to a ground surface by engagement ofthe spacer with the walker handle.

This disclosure also relates to a method of attaching a removable walkertray to a walker frame, the method comprises securing a first spacer toa first cutout in the walker tray; securing a second spacer to a secondcutout in the walker tray; inserting a first walker handle into thefirst cutout in the tray; inserting a second walker handle into thesecond cutout in the tray; and where upon inserting the walker handlesinto the cutouts, the tray is positioned on top of the walker frame andthe tray secured in a substantially level position on the walker frameby frictional engagement of the spacer between the tray and the walkerhandles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the tray.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spacer.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the walker tray.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the walker tray with the spacers attached.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view along line A-A of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the tray, which is a mirror image of theleft side view of the tray.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the walker tray and spacer attached tothe walker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure describes a walker tray and a spacer for attachment tothe walker tray. The use of the spacer in attaching the walker tray to awalker frame allows the walker tray to be securely attached in a desiredposition to the frame. The spacer permits attachment of the tray to avariety of walker frames as explained further below. The spacer can alsosupport attachment of the tray to the frame at a height selected by theuser. The spacer also allows the tray to be attached to the walkerframe, the tray being secured substantially horizontally with respect toa ground surface, the ground surface supporting the walker frame. Whenthe spacer is inserted properly, the tray can be secured to the walkerwherein the tray does not wobble and is retained steadily in asubstantially horizontal or level position. The spacer, when attached,also allows both the tray and the walker to retain full functionality.

Illustrated in further detail in FIG. 1 is an exemplary version of thewalker tray 10 of this disclosure. The walker tray 10 is made of adurable plastic or other suitable, lighter weight material. The tray 10is of a thickness sufficient enough to be sturdy for holding items, butno so thick as to inhibit attachment to and use of a walker 80. Thewalker tray 10 is generally rectangular in shape, with a forward edge 12and user facing edge 14. The forward facing edge 12 comprises a leadingedge 16, which allows for a greater surface area of the tray 10. Theuser facing edge includes an indentation 15 extending substantially thelength of the user facing edge 14 between cutouts 22 and 24. The tray 10includes two side edges 18 and 20. The walker tray comprises a generallysmooth, substantially flat user surface, or top surface 26. The tray 10includes a lip 25 that extends generally around a perimeter portion 27of the top or utility surface 26. The lip 25 forms a raised surface,which aids in retaining material, such as utensils, plates, cups orbowls.

The tray 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 also includes a perimeter skirt30 extending downward from the lip 25 about the perimeter of the tray10. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter skirt 30 includes aforward edge side wall 34, a left side wall 36, a right side wall 38,and a user facing side wall 40, which cooperatively define a continuousside wall about a perimeter 24 of the tray 10. The side walls 34, 36, 38and 40 or skirt 30 provide structural integrity for the tray 10, preventthe tray 10 from flexing as pressure is applied to the substantiallyflat surface 26.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the walker tray 10 includessubstantially rectangular cutouts 22 and 24 adjacent to the lip 22 andproximate side walls 36 and 38. The cut outs 22 and 24 substantiallyco-extend along the lip 25 along side edge 18 and 20. The cut outs 22and 24 are of sufficient length and width to fit over walker handlessuch that the walker handles extend through the cut outs 22 and 24. Thecut outs 22 and 24 are used to attach the tray 10 to the walker.Illustrated in farther detail in FIG. 6, the side walls 36 and 38 areadapted with a depressed length 41 and 42 substantially along the lengthof the cut outs 22 and 24. The depressed length, or adapted sections 40and 42 allow for extra room between a users hands or knuckles and thetray sides when the walker handles 78 and 82 extend through the traycutouts 22 and 24 thereby allowing a user to fully grip the walkerhandles without scraping the tray with the user's fingers.

A lip or extension portion 44 and 46 extends from the bottom surface ofthe walker tray close to the proximal end of each of the cutouts 22 and24, extending along the width of the cutouts. The lips 44 and 46supports attachment of the spacer to the tray.

The walker tray 10 also includes a circular cut out 48, which may beused as a cup holder. The top surface 26 also includes a depression 50,the depression 50 being in the shape to accommodate a mug with a handle.

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a spacer 60 of this disclosure. The walker tray10 and spacer 60 can be used with a majority of standard walkers in themarketplace. The spacer 60 is made from a suitable polymer that permitssufficient bending to attach to the tray while being sufficiently stiffto retain attachment of the spacer 60 to the tray 10. The spacer 60 isseparable from the tray 10. The spacer 60 is sufficiently thick to bestable, but not so thick as to inhibit the spacer from snapping orsliding in to place. The spacer is also sufficiently wide to provide asufficient surface for engagement with a surface of the walker handle 78or 82.

Illustrated in further detail in FIG. 2, the spacer 60 comprises anouter side 62 that is generally rounded at the top 64 leading to a flattop side 66 which is connected by a rounded bend to substantially flatback side 68. The bottom side 70 of the spacer is generally rounded. Thebottom edge 72 is further rounded to curve inward. The top inner sideand space 74 is substantially rectangular in shape wherein the bottomside of the rectangular shape connects to the side of the top of thebottom inner side and space 76 which is substantially square shaped.When the spacer 60 is snapped into place (attached to the tray), theopening between the top portion and the bottom portion interacts withthe tray 10 at the proximal edge of the width of the cutout 22 or 24.The top inner side and space 74 of the spacer interacts with the topsurface 26 of the tray 10. The bottom inner side and space 76 of thespacer 60 interacts with the lip 44 or 46 and/or the bottom surface ofthe tray 10. AS illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the spacer is attachedto the tray by inserting, for example, lip 46 into space 76. The top 64of the spacer 60 is then bent slightly away from the edge of the cutouts22 or 24 sufficiently to permit the top edge of the cutout 22 or 24 tobe retained within the space 24. Due to the elasticity of the polymerthat comprises the spacer 60, the spacer 60 although slight bent toattach to the tray, regains its original shape and is not deformed. Thespacer can be removed and reused repeatedly.

The spacer 60 secures the tray 10 to the walker frame 80, by frictionalengagement of the outer side 62 with the surface of the walker handle 78or 82. The top inner side and space 74 frictionally engages with the topsurface of the tray 26 at the cutout 22 or 24. The bottom inner side andspace 76 frictionally engages with the tray 10 at the bottom surface ofthe tray 10 and/or with the lip 44 or 46. In essence, the spacer fillsin the space between the tray 10 and the handles 78 or 82 of the walker.This space, in the past, has resulting in the tray “failing” to engagetop mechanisms of the walker. This has resulting in trays not beinglevel and not being secured to the walker.

The shape of the spacer is different at the top portion 64 and thebottom portion 72 to provide a visual and tactile cue to a user as tothe preferred orientation of the spacer for insertion. In theillustrated example, the difference is the size between spaces 74 and76.

The spacer 60 is preferably made of rubber, but can also be made ofplastic or other suitable semi-flexible materials that would allow thespacer to snap into place. The spacer 60 permits the tray 10 to be usedwith various walker configurations. The spacer 60 engages the lip 44 or46 and the proximal width of the cut out 22 or 24 simultaneously with awalker handle 78 or 82. The spacer 60 permits securing the tray 10substantially horizontal to a ground surface, the ground surfacesupporting the walker frame 80, and at a selected height with respect tothe handles 78 and 82. The spacer 60 can also snap into secureconnection with the cut out handle portion of prior art trays, as thespacer 60 can be used securely with a tray without the lip.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, to secure the walker tray in a generally flatand horizontal position, a spacer can be secured in each cut out so thatthe spacer engages with each handle of the walker. Two or more spacersmay be used to increase frictional engagement or stability of the walkertray when attached to the walker.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mechanism for securing a removable tray to awalker frame, the mechanism comprising: a removable spacer having asemi-arcuate length and comprising: a first surface configured forengagement with a surface of the removable walker tray; a second surfaceconfigured for engagement with a walker handle, such that the spacer isadapted to frictionally engage the removable walker tray with the walkerhandle extending through an opening in the walker tray such that whenthe walker tray is placed on a walker frame, the walker handle extendsupwardly through the opening in the walker try, and terminal ends of thearcuate length configured to further secure the removable spacer to theremovable tray substantially horizontally to a ground surface byengagement of the second surface of the spacer with the walker handle.2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the spacer is comprised of rubber.3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the spacer is adapted to engage witha lip on a bottom surface of the walker tray.
 4. A method of attaching aremovable walker tray to a walker frame, the method comprising: securinga first spacer to a first cutout in the walker tray; securing a secondspacer to a second cutout in the walker tray; inserting a first walkerhandle into the first cutout in the tray; inserting a second walkerhandle into the second cutout in the tray; and where upon inserting thewalker handles into the cutouts, the tray is positioned on top of thewalker frame and the tray is secured in a substantially level positionon the walker frame by frictional engagement of the spacers with boththe tray and the walker handles and between the tray and the walkerhandles.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the spacer further engageswith a lip on a bottom surface of the tray.